Glencadam American Oak Reserve

 Glencadam American Oak Reserve

 

Glencadam American Oak	Data Sheet
Owner:	Angus Dundee Distillers PLC
Barcode:	5021349705642
Price:	Around NIS 156 in Israel, £35 in the UK
Available in Israel	Yes
Alcohol:	40.0% abv
Age	NAS
Cask Types:	100% Bourbon Barrels
Non-Chill-Filtered:	No
Natural Colour:	No
Kashrus Issues:	None
Kosher Certification:	OU – Orthodox Union of America

 

Mazal Tov to Glencadam

Before we begin, I’d like to take the opportunity to wish everyone at Glencadam a hearty Mazal Tov on their 200^th anniversary. Many distilleries exaggerate slightly when it comes to the actual year their distillery was founded. For instance, it is the year where there had been or, at least it was rumoured that there might have been a distillery at that site before the current one, in around that year.

However, Glencadam’s stated date is historically genuine. Indeed, two of the four warehouses are from 1825, the stated founding year of Glencadam. The other two were erected in the 1950s when the now main building was built.

To celebrate their 200^th anniversary, they have just opened a brand-new visitor’s’ centre. I would absolutely recommend a visit there, as Glencadam itself is one of the few distilleries who still do it “the old way” with a water wheel for power, manual mash tons and not a computer in sight within the still-room.

 

My Son Got Married on Erev Rosh Hashana

Picture this my dear readers. My wife and I were in England touring some of the up-and-coming English Malt Whisky Distilleries back in June 2025 (more about this sometime this year, bli neder), when, to everyone’s surprise (especially the Ayatollahs), Israel attacked Iran on that fateful Thursday night, its mission: to destroy Iran’s nuclear weapons capabilities.

All air traffic to and from Israel was closed due to the imminent threat of hundreds of ballistic missiles being launched from Iran onto the Israeli civilian population. Indeed, this threat materialised within a couple of days with a shower of missiles, the only thing preventing hundreds, if not thousands of civilian deaths, being Israel's missile defence system. 

Every Israeli abroad immediately flooded all the airline switchboards and their WhatApp accounts, demanding that they find a way to get us back home. Yes, you heard that right! Everyone wanted to come home to Israel as soon as they possibly could, to share in the fate of the nation currently under direct Ballistic missile attack. We were no exception. After all, our kids and grandkids were there going through it so we should be there as well.

What other nation on earth, demands to be flown into a war zone?

Shmuel II 7:23 And who is like Your people, like Israel, one nation in the world, whom G-d went to redeem for Himself as a people, and to make Him a name, also to accomplish for you the greatness and fearful things for Your land, [in driving out] from before Your people, whom You did redeem for Yourself out of Egypt, [the] nations and their gods?

שמואל ב ז"כג וּמִ֚י כְעַמְּךָ֙ כְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל גּ֥וֹי אֶחָ֖ד בָּאָ֑רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָלְכֽוּ־אֱ֠לֹקִים לִפְדּֽוֹת־ל֨וֹ לְעָ֜ם וְלָשֹ֧וּם ל֣וֹ שֵׁ֗ם וְלַעֲשֹ֨וֹת לָכֶ֜ם הַגְּדוּלָּ֚ה וְנֹֽרָאוֹת֙ לְאַרְצֶ֔ךָ מִפְּנֵ֣י עַמְּךָ֗ אֲשֶׁ֨ר פָּדִ֚יתָ לְּךָ֙ מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם גּוֹיִ֖ם וֵאלֹהָֽיו:

Despite all our efforts, for the time being we were stuck in England with almost no possibility of getting home. (There were actually quite a few of the more adventurous Israelis who flew to Cypress and then privately hired a boat to get them to Haifa port).

Then, in the midst of all this, we got a phone-call from our youngest son, which went something like this:

“Dad!”,

“Yes Son, how’s it going?”,

“I proposed to T****** and she accepted. We are now engaged and have even booked the date and marriage venue!”

“Wow, Mazal Tov! What day have you booked for?”

“Err, well that’s the thing. Actually, it’s Sunday afternoon, Erev Rosh Hashana!”.

(I was thinking, but not saying allowed), “Are they meshugim? - are they out of their minds?”

Already feeling the stress levels quickly rising but keeping my composure on the outside, I asked why they had chosen the most challenging of dates in the entire Jewish calendar to get married (with the exception of Erev Pesach, I suppose)? Apparently, they were persuaded by the venue manager who gave them a special “discount” for this day.

“That was nice of him”, I said. (I’m not sure that my son registered the sarcasm).

It took about ten days until we managed to get a rescue flight home on a Sunday morning. The next day we met the parents of the Kalla (bride) for the first time and began arrangements.

I’d like you to take a moment to appreciate the complexity of having to organise everything for the Shabbos Ufruf for the entire family on Parshas Nitzavim (the Shabbos directly before the chasuna (wedding) itself), whilst at the same time, prepare for two days of Rosh Hashana including Tekios Shofar both days and four seudos (festive meals), but now with the seudos including extra guests to enable the inclusion of Sheva Brachos of course.

Despite my initial panic, I have to tell you that, Baruch Hashem, everything went off so smoothly, some would consider it quite miraculous. It also might have had something to do with the fact that the kalla’s parents were so amazing and accommodating.

After Rosh Hashana, the wedding celebrations continued and we were invited to spend the Shabbos Sheva Brachos (Vayelech-parshas Teshuva), with the family of the kalla.

They live in a lovely little community in the Gush Etzion region.

To match the occasion, I decided to bring along no less than six bottles of Single Malt for the Shabbos, as the parents of the kalla were not only hosting guests from both sides of the family, for all the Shabbos meals, but also laying on a lavish kiddush for the shul community.

I decided on one bottle of Glen Moray 12, a Glen Moray Elgin Peated Classic, two bottles of Glenfiddich 12 “Our American Oak” and two bottles of Glencadam American Oak Reserve.

My local wine shop had a special offer on the Glenfiddich 12 American Oak – 2 for NIS 300 and the Glencadam worked out almost the same price @ NIS 156 a bottle.

I was already thinking whilst still in the shop, that the last two mentioned would make for a most interesting of comparisons.

So, Friday night, both families of the Chosan and Kalla (bridegroom and bride) were sharing the same table for the first time, comprising approximately 70 adults plus kids and grandkids.

During the serving of the Hors d'oeuvre salads, I decided that it would be the perfect opportunity to get up and walk round the table offering everyone a dram. It was then that I suddenly realised that what we had here was a closed sample audience to do my comparison. I there upon poured everyone who wanted, two glasses (actually little plastic cups), of whisky, one from the bottle of Glenfiddich 12 American Oak and the other from the Glencadam American Oak Reserve.

Those who accepted the two glasses turned out to be approximately 60% of the men and 20% of the women. I waited about 30 minutes and then went round again with the same two bottles, asking everyone which one they preferred and whether they wanted a top-up from either one (or both).

Results could not have been more unambiguous. When asked if they wanted a top-up, almost everyone who answered in the affirmative, requested the Glencadam! Some asked for both and only a couple of people asked for just the Glenfiddich. What a fascinating experiment that was. In a direct head-to-head competition with a sample audience of some 40 people or so, the Glencadam was the clear winner. But, what do I think of it?

 

The Glencadam American Oak Reserve Review

Packaging

As already mentioned above, the packaging and artwork are identical to the rest of the Glencadam core-range. The 10 is yellow. The 13 is gold. The 15 is black, the 18 is green and the 21, red. For this American Oak Reserve, they’ve chosen a lovely rich blue colour.

As mentioned in previous reviews, I have noticed that even budget Single Malts now come with premium looking cork stoppers. Well, unfortunately that isn’t the case with Glencadam who are still using those cheap looking generic thin black plastic cork stoppers for their entire range. It’s a real shame because it diminishes the whole bottle opening experience when you are presented with a cheap looking cork stopper like this.

Whilst opening the bottle, all your senses are excited, assessing the whisky. The feel and weight of the bottle, the removal of the bottle wrap revealing the cork stopper and finally, carefully popping the cork. You ponder for a moment that the gas that you have just allowed to escape, is a little piece of Scottish air mixed with the heavy aroma of the spirit. The gargling of the liquid as it’s poured out into the glass. It’s all part of the whole ritual.

So, being presented with a cheap plastic stopper does rather detract from the moment and does Glencadam no favours at all! They really should look at the stoppers that come with the latest releases of even budget level Loch Lomonds or Glenfiddichs. These are chunky and substantial and have the distillery emblem embossed on the top. Even Glen Moray, the “king” of budget Single Malts, has a better-quality Cork Stopper.

 

Tasting Experience

Appearance

Examining the liquid in the glass, there are telltale signs of the use of E150a caramel colourant but it doesn’t look too excessive. Swirling the whisky in the glass you can tell that this is 40% abv and chill filtered by the runny appearance of the alcohol lines that rapidly drip down the inside of the glass. There is no doubt that it is lacking some texture compared to the core-range 10,13, 15 and 18-Year-Old.

Aroma

Straight off the bat, your nostrils are treated to a silky soft Bourbon Barrel wood beautifully balanced with intense fruity notes, bees-wax, honey and baked pastries. Most Single Malts at this price range either concentrate on a fruity, floral nose or a heavy, overpowering and overdone burnt caramel/toffee nose by the use of heavily charred Virgin Oak Casks. To get this kind of balanced, complex nose, you’d usually have to spend twice the amount of money.

There’re sweet soft spices including cinnamon, coriander, nutmeg, caraway seeds, ginger and cloves. This is mixed with baked yellow apple with a drizzle of caramelised brown sugar, honey, custard, sultanas and crusty pastry.

This Glencadam has without doubt, the most impressive nose on any budget single malt I have reviewed so far.

The question is, will the tasting experience match its excellent nose?

Mouthfeel

OK, so the American Oak Reserve has been somewhat sanitised when it comes to the mouthfeel. It’s a bit “clean” and I don’t mean that in a positive way. It lacks some oil texture due to chill-filtration but compared to many other Single Malts in this price range, it certainly cannot be described as watery or light-weight in any way.

Pouring some Glencadam 13 and doing a direct tasting comparison certainly exposes its limitations to express itself fully with its main weakness in this area, that is, the mouthfeel. Then again, it’s a totally unfair comparison as the American Oak Reserve is trying to fight with it’s legs bound together and one hand tied behind its back, that is, “Integrity Challenged”!

Tasting

I took a generous sip and held the liquid in my mouth for a few seconds. There is no doubt that the body is fuller and more substantial than other single malts in its price range. In my experience, full bodied Single Malts at this price are usually accompanied by intense caramelised toffee sweetness, but with this Glencadam, that isn’t the case at all. That’s why I think that some reviewers have described this as having a slightly “dry” finish. I don’t think it’s dry at all like heavy brewed tea tannins, it’s just they are expecting a (sickly) sweetness that doesn't materialise.

The fully integrated Bourbon Barrel influence indicated far greater maturation than this Non-Age Statement would suggest. I’d guess it contains some young First-Fill, say between 4 and 8 Years but vatted with some much older Refill Barrel Glencadam liquid. I wonder just how much of that older whisky they’ve married with the younger barrels? It seems like quite a lot.

This Glencadam American Oak conveys a greater softness and oaky maturity than the excellent 10-Year-Old, which comes over as having more fresh green fruity notes. This American Oak Reserve in contrast, is firmly in the yellow fruits category like sweetened stewed apple, sultanas and some orange marmalade. Along with the cooked fruit notes you have solid waxy honey and wet pastries. I’d actually compare the general flavour profile to my personal favourite Glencadam, the fantastic 15-Year-Old.

Finish

Long, full bodied, soft oak, honey with toasted brown sugar-coated apple strudel.

With Water

I tried this with a half a teaspoon of water added and I must admit that flavours were noticeably magnified, but honestly, the fact that almost everyone will be drinking this without dilution is just fine.

Conclusion

As mentioned above, trying to compare this American Oak Reserve with the Glencadam 10 or 13-Year-Old is not a fair comparison.

Instead, if we compare it with the likes of Glenfiddich 12 “Our American Oak” or the Glenmorangie 12, then the Glencadam “American Oak Reserve” really shines!

A direct comparison between the Glenfiddich 12 (yellow can, not the green one) and this Glencadam will highlight Glencadam’s much fuller body and complexity, with its richer, cooked fruit compote notes and softer oaky spices.

In contrast, the Glenfiddich 12 “Yellow” is lighter and fresh fruitier. Like the Glencadam, it’s beautifully balanced and compared to other Speysiders in this price range, is really impressive, showing character and a singular flavour profile. It is an excellent choice for an Entry-Level Single Malt but the Glencadam is simply in a different league, being, in my opinion, superior in all areas. It’s a kind of a Premium Entry-Level as it were, but at roughly the same price.

I’d choose the Glencadam over the Glenfiddich any day, and it seems (at least according to my little sample test conducted at the Shabbos Sheva Brachos), that I’m not alone in this conclusion.

For value for money, quality, flavour balance, complexity and sheer drinking pleasure, Glencadam American Oak Reserve has to be my new recommendation for the No.1 best Entry-Level / Gateway Single Malt Whisky, knocking the Glen Moray Elgin Classic firmly off its throne.

Yes, the Glen Moray Elgin Heritage Classic is some 30 Shekels cheaper but for the shear drinking enjoyment experience, the Glencadam is more than worth spending the little extra, even if undiluted and drunk from a plastic cup at a simcha.

It’s earned itself a permanent place in my collection, to be brought out when I have a guest who has never tried a Single Malt Whisky before. If anything will pursued him or her to walk through the gateway then it’s this Glencadam American Oak Reserve.

Postscript

Remember what I wrote about Glencadam's use of cheap generic corks? Well, case in point, when I went to compose a photo comparing the whisky colour of the Glencadam American Oak Reserve to the Glencadam 10-Year-Old, right on queue, the cork broke off the 10-Year-Old bottle!

Baruch Hashem, with the use of toothpicks and tweezers, I managed to get the broken cork out and used another cork stopper (a much higher quality one), to replace the original.